Griffith opened the kitchen door, and stood upon the threshold.
The women courtesied to him, and were loud in welcome.
He returned their civilities briefly; and then his first word was, "Hath Thomas Leicester been here?"
You know how servants stick together against their master! The girls looked him in the face, like candid doves, and told him Leicester had not been that way for six months or more.
"Why, I have tracked him to within two miles," said Griffith, doubtfully.
"Then he is sure to come here," said Jane, adroitly. "He wouldn't ever think to go by us."
"The moment he enters the house, you let me know. He is a mischief-making loon."
He then asked for a horn of ale; and, as he finished it, Ryder came in, and he turned to her, and asked her after her mistress.
"She was well, just now," said Ryder; "but she has been took with a spasm; and it would be well, sir, if you could dress, and entertain the company in her place awhile. For I must tell you, your being so long away hath set their tongues going, and almost broken my lady's heart."
Griffith sighed, and said he could not help it, and now he was here, he would do all in his power to please her. "I'll go to her at once," said he.
"No, sir!" said Ryder, firmly. "Come with me. I want to speak to you."
She took him to his bachelor's room, and stayed a few minutes to talk to him.
"Master," said she, solemnly, "things are very serious here. Why did you stay so long away? Our dame says some woman is at the bottom of it, and she'll put a knife into you if you come a-nigh her."
This threat did not appall Griffith, as Ryder expected. Indeed, he seemed rather flattered.
"Poor Kate!" said he; "she is just the woman to do it. But I am afraid she does not love me enough for that. But indeed how should she?"
"Well, sir," replied Ryder, "oblige me by keeping clear of her for a little while. I have got orders to make your bed here. Now, dress, like a good soul, and then go down and show respect to the company that is in your house; for they know you are here."
"Why, that is the least I can do," said Griffith. "Put you out what I am to wear, and then run and say I'll be with them anon."
Griffith walked into the dining-room, and, somewhat to his surprise, after what Ryder had said, found Mrs. Gaunt seated at the head of her own table, and presiding like a radiant queen over a brilliant assembly.
He walked in, and made a low bow to his guests first: then he approached to greet his wife more freely; but she drew back decidedly, and made him a courtesy, the dignity and distance of which struck the whole company.
Sir George Neville, who was at the bottom of the table, proposed, with his usual courtesy, to resign his place to Griffith. But Mrs. Gaunt forbade the arrangement.
"No, Sir George," said she; "this is but an occasional visitor; you are my constant friend."
If this had been said pleasantly, well and good; but the guests looked in vain into their hostess's face for the smile that ought to have accompanied so strange a speech and disarmed it.
"Rarities are the more welcome," said a lady, coming to the rescue; and edged aside to make room for him.
"Madam," said Griffith, "I am in your debt for that explanation; but I hope you will be no rarity here, for all that."
Supper proceeded; but the mirth languished. Somehow or other, the chill fact that there was a grave quarrel between two at the table, and those two man and wife, insinuated itself into the spirits of the guests. There began to be lulls,—fatal lulls. And in one of these, some unlucky voice was heard
